Utah boy, 13, spends 300 hours 3D-printing wheelchair for toddler
A 13-year-old boy from Utah spent 300 hours designing and 3D-printing a custom mobility chair for a toddler. He collaborated with the nonprofit MakeGood to provide the device, which features adjustable components to accommodate the child's growth.
Why it matters
This highlights how accessible 3D printing technology empowers youth to engage in humanitarian efforts and solve real-world accessibility challenges.
While many children his age were on summer break, 13-year-old Zac Waters spent about 300 hours working on a very different project. The Lehi, Utah, boy used his 3D printing skills to build a custom mobility chair for a 21-month-old girl.According to ABC 4, Waters became interested in 3D printing after watching YouTube videos about the technology. He soon wanted to use what he was learning for something beyond simply making objects. That search led him to MakeGood, a New Orleans-based nonprofit that provides free 3D-printed mobility devices for children with disabilities.The organisation's volunteer network allows people with 3D printers to make mobility devices at home. Its open-source Toddler Mobility Trainer design can be built for about $150 in materials.Waters found an opportunity to combine his interest in 3D printing with his wish to help someone in need.
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